Attention! Yersinia enterocolitica can cause illness. Check your refrigerator to see if you have it.

Bought something

The first thing that comes to mind is "put it in the refrigerator~"

However,

Refrigerator ≠ safe

The low temperature environment of the refrigerator not only cannot sterilize

On the contrary, it provides a good living environment for some bacteria

Improper use of refrigerator

It is easy to turn the refrigerator into an "accomplice" of disease

Speaking of "Refrigerator Killer" - Listeria

Maybe you are more familiar with

But there is another kind of cold-eating "king" in the refrigerator that is just like it.

↓↓↓

Yersinia enterocolitica

Let’s find out today

This mysterious "Killer No. 2"!

What is Yersinia enterocolitica?

Yersinia enterocolitica is a Gram-negative rod or coccobacillus, 1-3.5×0.5-1.3μm in size, mostly isolated, sometimes arranged in short chains or piles [1]. Yersinia enterocolitica is one of the few intestinal pathogens that can grow at refrigerated temperatures. Yersinia enterocolitica can spread between humans and animals, so it is also called a zoonosis . It mainly infects the intestines of humans and animals and causes infection, but can also cause extraintestinal infection.

▲Yersinia enterocolitica under an electron microscope

(Photo source: Erganzhiji official account)

The most suitable growth temperature for Yersinia enterocolitica is 25℃-30℃. It can grow and reproduce at 4℃ without any special nutritional conditions. It is "psychrophilic" and can grow in water and at low temperatures (4℃). It is one of the few bacteria in the intestines that can grow and reproduce at 4℃ .

Therefore, when food is refrigerated, it should be prevented from being contaminated by this bacteria.

What are its epidemiological characteristics?

▼ Distribution characteristics : Widely distributed in nature, mainly found in vegetables, milk and dairy products, meat, soy products, salads, oysters, shrimps and other foods. It can infect livestock, poultry, rodents, birds and insects.

(Photo source: Dingxiang Doctor Official Account)

▼ Source of infection : Wild animals, livestock (pigs, dogs and cats), contaminated food or water sources are all sources of Yersinia infection, and it can also be isolated from the feces of healthy people or patients.

▼ Transmission route : fecal-oral route. Foods that are easily contaminated are mainly pork, beef and poultry , milk and tofu, etc.

▼ Susceptible population : Generally susceptible, with disease occurring in all age groups, with the highest incidence in children aged 1-4 years, and no significant gender difference.

▼ Epidemic season : The incidence rate increases significantly in autumn and winter and spring and winter .

What are the symptoms after infection?

Pathogenicity

Diseases caused by Yersinia enterocolitica can be divided into gastroenteritis type and extraintestinal infection according to their symptoms. Rare myocarditis, subacute hepatitis, liver abscess, conjunctivitis, meningitis, urethritis, sepsis, etc. may also occur.

Clinical characteristics

Typical symptoms are acute enteritis with fever and diarrhea , which is more common in infants and young children. The stool is yellow and watery, and bloody stool may occur in severe cases. The frequency of diarrhea varies, ranging from 5-6 times to more than 10 times. It can also present with right lower abdominal pain or vomiting , which is more common in older children, and is very similar to acute appendicitis or Crohn's disease of the small intestine (the focus of differential diagnosis).

How to prevent and control it in daily life?

Pay attention to food hygiene

Since Yersinia enterocolitica is a "low-temperature bacterium", food stored in the refrigerator is easily infected. Therefore, refrigerated food should be fully heated and raw vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed.

It is also necessary to control the source of infection, especially pigs, and properly dispose of their excrement to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment, water sources and food.

Antimicrobial therapy

● The drugs of choice for adults: co-trimoxazole, gentamicin, doxycycline;

● Second-choice drug for adults: third-generation cephalosporin (first-choice drug for children).

at last

Fujian CDC Warm Reminder

Do not store large amounts of food in the refrigerator for long periods of time

Clean the refrigerator regularly.

References:

[1] Yu Enshu. Research progress on Yersinia enterocolitica in China. Chinese Journal of Epidemiology, 2000.

[2] Cold-loving and low-temperature bacteria - Yersinia enterocolitica, "Children's Infection Collection", 2017-07-26

[3] Yersinia enterocolitica, an intestinal pathogen that can still grow under refrigeration, "Hebei Disease Control", 2018-07-16

[4] The cold-eating “king” - Yersinia enterocolitica, Beijing Zhuocheng Huisheng, 2016-10-25